Press Releases

Celebrating Excellence: A Year of Recognition

Our journey in 2024 has been filled with incredible milestones, including the awards the organization has received and the employees we have honored. It is time to celebrate the hard work, dedication, and commitment that has driven our success.

Awards Received by Hospital for Special Care

This year, we have been honored with several prestigious awards highlighting our continued growth and innovation. These awards serve as a testament to the passion and determination of our entire team.

1. Top Workplace USA, Top Workplace Healthcare Industry, and the Hartford Courant CT Top Workplace
   One of the most significant accomplishments of the year was receiving the Top Workplace awards. This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to creating a positive work environment where employees can thrive. We’ve worked hard to foster a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered by providing growth opportunities and prioritizing employee satisfaction and patient care excellence.
2. Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS) Enhanced Respiratory Care Standards of Care Accreditation
   We were the first in Connecticut to achieve the Enhanced Respiratory Care Accreditation. This accreditation is a testament to our hard work and our focus on delivering exceptional care that doesn’t just exceed our patients’ expectations but also meets the most rigorous standards developed by the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety.

Awards Given to Our Employees

We take pride in the recognition our organization has received, but it’s our employees who truly make us shine. Over 65 employees were awarded this year for their accomplishments in their healthcare professions and for going above and beyond in providing high-quality patient-centered care. Here’s a look at some of the most notable awards presented to our incredible team members:

1. Caretaker Awards
   The four caretaker awards adopted and designed by employees, award team members who go above and beyond to provide compassionate high-quality care every day. This year Dottie Leighton, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, John Case, RN, Perry Munar, RN, and Kate Wray, RN were honored with The Daisy Award® for extraordinary nurses. Keturah Best was awarded the Willow Award for extraordinary respiratory therapists, and Robert “Bo” Rosso was awarded the Lotus Award for outstanding therapists. The BEE Award, designed to recognize team members that indirectly or directly support patient care, was awarded to Carmen Acevedo, and Jadeen Cunningham, CNA.
2. Advancement for Clinical Excellence
   We recognized fifty-two individuals from across the organization as Advancement for Clinical Excellence (ACE) Awardees. Clinical staff engage in various initiatives and projects, including mentorship, skill advancement, certification, and procedure implementation to receive the award.
3. 2024 Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) Healthcare Heroes Award
   The CHA Healthcare Hero Award was presented to Iwona Kraska, CNA. This award celebrates and recognizes exceptional healthcare workers’ invaluable contributions to their field and the community at large.
4. Castle Connolly Top Doctors
   Castle Connolly selected four of our doctors, Natalie Sajkowicz, Dr. William Pesce, Dr. Kevin Felice, and Dr. Hassan Minhas. Top Doctors are peer-nominated and are chosen for embodying excellence in clinical care and interpersonal skills, and reshaping the healthcare landscape.
5. Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing
   Three nurses were awarded the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing, an award for nurses who have gone beyond the call to provide excellent care to patients and mentor other nurses, and who have a strong sense of community. This year, Lynnette Griffin, LPN, Courtney Maccasland, RN, and Sheila Basquil, RN were awarded.

Looking Ahead

We are grateful for the amazing recognition our organization has received and for the exceptional contributions of each of our employees. These awards, both internal and external, serve as a reminder of the incredible talent, dedication, and passion that drive us to be the best we can be.

Looking ahead to 2025, we remain committed to empowering our team, fostering innovation, and making a positive impact in our industry and the communities we serve.